Mendes Ranch

Mendes Ranch Reviews Around the Web

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  Tony Smith · September 08, 2023

  I recently had an incredible experience with Circle M Ranch (formerly Mendes Ranch) on their horseback riding tour in Maui. My partner and I decided to take this tour as a couple, and it was truly memorable.
  
  Our adventure began with two wonderful horses, Willy and Thunder, who were gentle yet playful and easy to ride. Our guide, Chase, played a pivotal role in making this tour exceptional. Chase was not only knowledgeable about the area but also incredibly patient and entertaining throughout the ride.
  
  One of the most important aspects for us was feeling safe while still having fun, and Circle M Ranch delivered on this front. The horses were well-trained, and the staff made sure everyone had a safe and enjoyable experience.
  
  The views from the ranch were simply breathtaking. They offered a unique and exclusive perspective of the Maui landscape that we couldn't have seen elsewhere. It felt like a hidden gem.
  
  To top it off, the ranch provided us with snacks and drinks during the ride, which was a thoughtful touch that added to our overall enjoyment.
  
  In summary, we highly recommend Circle M Ranch and this tour as a truly unique way to experience the beauty of Maui. It's an adventure that combines stunning scenery, great horses, and a fantastic guide like Chase, making it an unforgettable experience for couples and families alike.
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  J. White · October 14, 2023

  I recommend this trail ride on a Rocky Mountain trail overlooking the ocean with stops along the way for photos, cultural and historical tidbits by the guides. There’s even an opportunity to canter/lope your horse. The terrain makes that difficult (even for a FL Western Pleasure show competitor like myself) so center yourself in your saddle and trust your horse to pick his/her way if you’re skilled and don’t try it if you’re a beginner. Lessons/tips on how to ride these horses were provided before the trail ride and more than one guide is riding along. They offer beverages (hydration is important) and helmets (safety minded) before and after the trip. The guides are knowledgeable and personable and the horses (mustangs from the mainland) are great. The ranch also has goats, lambs, chickens and pigs.
  
  I used to ride open shows, 4-H shows (second at state horse show for Western Pleasure in 2001) and AQHA shows in FL. I’ve competed in trail riding, team penning, barrel racing, Western Pleasure and English. I try to ride horses on every trip I’ve been on so I knew this activity was on my to-do list while in Maui (Hana and Kihei). I had ridden on the seven mile beach in the Grand Caymans so I wasn’t too disappointed that this wouldn’t be another beach ride. It was a rocky one and since we don’t have mountains in FL (I’ve ridden in the NC mountains too), it was a different experience. It certainly gave our legs a workout so we visited several nearby beaches after the ride (salt water cures everything!). I highly recommend this ranch for an enjoyable ride.
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  Nicole Sinrud · October 11, 2023

  We did the morning ride. There were 3 in my party. Everyone was really friendly and knowledgeable. Teri made us feel right at home from the start. She introduced us to some of the characters on the ranch and gave us some stories about how they joined the family. The entire experience was relaxed and fun. This experience felt like joining a family not making a transaction. They provided drinks,snacks, and a saddle bag to put everything in. The facilities were very clean and you could tell that was important to them.
  The ride itself was beautiful and relaxing. The horses and guides were all very friendly and Max gave us some fun history fax while stopping at a beautiful lookout point. This was the best guided trail ride I've been on. I would love to come back again.
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  La · June 21, 2023

  We absolutely loved riding at Mendes ranch - highly recommended for both new and experienced riders! We were lucky enough to get a last minute booking and they were so accommodating in keeping me up to date on openings for our last minute trip. We did the morning ride and I got paired with sweet girl, Peeps. They do a great job at pairing you with the right horse. The horses are clearly well cared for and I loved learning about their unique personalities from the ranchers. Three guides rode alongside the group so we always felt safe. Don, our the lead guide, was amazing and shared really cool historical tidbits about the land and ranch itself. I also loved having one of the ranchers’ dog come along with the trail with us :)
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  Daniel Rushton · June 22, 2023

  We really enjoyed our ranch ride with Circle M, previously Mendes, Horse ranch! This has to be among the best views you can get while riding most anywhere in the world. The horses were beautiful, the guides were knowledgeable and courteous, and even funny, and the entire pre and post ride setting in their ranch house was spot on. From the clean and pretty rest rooms, to the coffee and morning refreshments, to the flowers and animals all around, it was a winner of a way to spend the morning on God's sweeping Maui sea coast.
  
  Insider hint, of the 5 horses our group had, as well as the other 10 horses in our group this morning, I'd say the rock star was "Ken", and the horse I'd avoid is "Shrek". :-)